Why we’re done shopping for Christmas and choosing peace instead

TLDR (5 min read)

• Christmas gifting has become pressure based, expensive and unrealistic in a cost of living crisis.

• Most adults can buy what they need, so gifts often turn into clutter, waste and stress.

• Sale culture like Black Friday manipulates shoppers more than it actually saves money.

• We’re choosing experiences, handmade gifts and simplicity instead of mindless spending.

• Reducing Christmas pressure helps us focus on financial freedom, mental peace and time together.

It's 1 December and every year the noise gets louder.

Black Friday starts earlier, inboxes explode, group chats fill with “What are you getting them?” and the pressure quietly piles on. All while the cost of living keeps climbing. Groceries, rent, electricity, fuel, insurance, all of it.

Every year we say, “Let’s keep it simple, no gifts, less stress.” And every year the chaos wins and we cave.

But not this year. Because honestly, everyone is thinking the same thing, but no one has the jingle balls to actually say it. So let’s talk about it.

We’ve officially opted out of adult Christmas gifting.

We want a more intentional Christmas focused on our family and friends. Our niece and nephew, Buddy, handmade things and time spent together. And here’s why you might want to consider it too.

Black Friday “bargains” are not what they seem...

One of the biggest sources of pressure is the sale hype. Anyone else getting nonstop text messages about sales?

Everywhere you look, brands are screaming about deals too good to miss. Except many of them are not real deals and consumer watchdogs have proven it.

Choice Australia has repeatedly found that many Black Friday “discounts” are misleading because some retailers increase prices beforehand, then drop them back to normal during the sale.

Their 2025 Black Friday survey found:

• 52% of shoppers spent more money than intended

• 48% bought things they didn’t actually need

• 47% felt pressured to buy because of the marketing

• 28% said the products they received were lower quality than expected

Black Friday is not about generosity. It is about urgency, psychology and clever marketing.

And to be transparent, I know I’m privileged.

As a content creator, I get access to opportunities that not everyone does. I mostly share about health, wellbeing and body acceptance because that’s what I care about most and when I recommend products or links, it’s only because I genuinely use them and think they could add value to your life too. But there's no pressure, ever.

Cost of living pressure makes all this even harder

The Australian Bureau of Statistics continues to report significant increases in core essentials. Families are stretched. People are quietly struggling and yet Christmas has become the most expensive month of the year.

Gifts, food, events, travel, kids activities, work Kris Kringle. It adds up fast and here is the part people rarely say out loud. The people with the least often feel the most pressure to give.

I don't know about you but I want no part in contributing to anyone’s financial stress.

When giving stops feeling joyful

Speaking generally, most adults can buy what they want or need, so gift exchanges often turn into pressure instead of joy. Trying to pick the right thing, hoping they’ll actually love it and it won’t end up as clutter, waste or on marketplace.

And then there’s the comparison game no one talks about. How many gifts did you get me. How much did I spend versus how much you spent. Who bought more. Who tried harder.

It becomes a silent scoreboard that ignores real life things like income differences, financial equity, responsibilities and completely different circumstances. It’s not really the Christmas spirit, is it. But it happens to the best of us because the pressure is baked into the culture, not because anyone is trying to be unkind.

We wanted to step away from that cycle.

What we're choosing instead

Handmade gifts for adults

When we hosted a Christmas lunch this year, everyone brought food and we gave out jars of homemade rosemary salt. It felt thoughtful, low waste and everyone loved it!

More handmade ideas that I've seen and want to recreate:

• salted soft caramels and whipped honey butter

• rosemary sea salt

• hot chocolate jars

• homemade chutneys or jams

• baked treats

• candles in reused jars

It’s not stingy. It’s creative, sustainable and reduces clutter and stress for everyone.

Experiences over things

We want dinners, catch ups, conversations, nights in, long walks and connection. We want memories instead of clutter. That's why this year we’re leaning into more experiences.

My sister surprised me with concert tickets. We took my brother to Reine La Rue because he’s training as a chef and it meant alot to share that with him. And when Mum and her partner come down, we’re celebrating with a beautiful dinner instead of swapping gifts. We’re also spending a week with our niece and nephew to make memories that actually feel like Christmas.

My husband and I will give each other a meaningful gift when it feels right, not because it’s expected. Something intentional and thoughtful, not another random thing we laugh at once and never use again.

This approach can bring up feelings at first, but in the long run I think it’s pro honesty, simplicity, sustainability and time with the people we love.

If you’re tired of the pressure and the clutter and just want to be smarter with your money, take this as your permission to step back. You don’t have to buy into it. You can choose a slower, softer, simpler Christmas.

I hope this makes the season lighter and more enjoyable for you and your family.